January 2006 Archives

Today I would like to talk about the greatness of dogs. You see, over the weekend my faithful companion for 15 years, Sophie the dog, was put to sleep. For many, a dog is a dog, but for a privileged few, a dog is so much more. Perhaps we are just awed at the unconditional love a dog can give - always happy to see you home and sad to see you go.

Sure, that love probably stems from the fact that we feed, give shelter, bathe and if you live in the city, clean up said doggie's poo. But, I really think there is a bond between dog and owner that is unparalleled. For some people, and I have met many like this, they love their dog more than people - simply because the dog can't speak, but can be spoken to ad nauseam.

For others, there is no better companion than a dog whilst on a nice stroll or just lying in the yard. Whatever the reason, when said doggie dies (I've lived long enough now to outlive two) I can't but help feeling a piece of me dies too, not to mention spawning thoughts of mortality on a grander scale. Anyway, pictured in happier times is my little Soph (b. 1991- d. January 28, 2006).

Based on today's post, let's listen to my favorite singer-songwriter/existentialist - Donovan. Here is "Sun" and "The Mandolin Man And His Secret."

I am departing today...for a simpler time. Often I wish I was in my 20's in the late 1960's and early 1970's. I really believe I was born too late. I needed to be in NYC at Studio 54 during the hey day. I desperately want to be surrounded by people outta their minds on the cocaina having orgies.

Songs on the radio were "Funky Town" and "Ring My Bell." Are you kidding me? Who wouldn't love some hot 70's chicky working her body across from you on the dance floor (that lit up, no less), mouthing the words, "Won't you take me to...Funky Townnnnnnnn." Yummy.

Then flip to the pop music of today. How f'n boring can you get? Why has it turned to this? At least we have hip-hop now, but even that has been a formula for the last 15 years. In 1968, Hugh Masakela scored an international hit - an international hit - with "Grazin In the Grass." Could this song ever be number one today? Hell no and this fact irks me beyond belief.

So, today on c101 we celebrate songs with soul - Hugh's wonderful gift to the musical tree and the aforementioned 12-inch version of "Funky Town" by Lipps Inc.

I watched "Grizzly Man" with Dr. B last eve and, well, I have some comments. First and foremost, those that have not seen this odd and twisted documentary, please do. It will go places you had no idea a documentary would go. I expected a Grizzly Adam's type conservationist, what you get is a very lost and, I think, mentally challenged fruit loop.

First, we learn that Timothy Treadwell is a failed actor turned animal lover on a mission from God. I mean it. But to leave the description at that falls way, way short. Treadwell (self-described eco-warrior) went to the wilds of Alaska for 13 summers and filmed his last five before he and his girlfriend were chowed by a bear. Shocking result, I know.

Through his films, it becomes very apparent that Treadwell was trying to craft a mystique about himself as this loner, bear/animal advocate who was increasingly misunderstood and only happy when he was with his bears (Treadwell and Mr. Chocolate, pictured). Still, I came away with the impression that Treadwell really wasn't about conservation - how does spending a few months with bears in the wild equal conservation/preservation?

The film maker Werner Herzog points out that some of the best footage is when Treadwell leaves the shot and we see all the beauty that Alaska gives. Simply put, it seemed to me that Treadwell just didn't quite get it - he did not understand the way he was perceived both by humans and bears.

There is a part in the film when Treadwell's friend "Spirit" the fox steals his cap and takes it to his den (Treadwell situated his tent between two fox dens so he could commune with them). Treadwell swears at Spirit for several minutes for taking his hat, rather than realizing the humor of the situation. Maybe that is the crux of the problem I had with Treadwell. He couldn't deal with the human world because of its chaotic and ever-changing manner, so he fled to nature. However, there is not anything more random or chaotic than nature. Poor Timmy Treadwell.

Let's take a couple tracks off Ray-Ray's ever so good "This Is What I'm Talkin' Bout," here is Moving Units "Between Us and Them" and Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah! "Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away."

Part of my nightly ritual is to listen to George Noory on "After Dark". I used to listen to Art Bell, but George replaced him and he is doing a great job. Last night, George interviewed Howard Bloom and they were discussing America's war on terror or George Bush vs. Osama.

Much of their discussion was based on a new tape released showing Osama sitting on some rock saying this. While I did not get to hear the whole conversation between Noory and Bloom, I did get to hear a good chunk and I think Bloom had some great points on Bush and his stance on Iraq and the war on terror.

He pointed out that Osama's frame of mind is based on a multi-generational war, we (Americans) think in four-month intervals and are constantly fixated on exit strategies, Osama is prepared to fight forever. Until the last 100 years, Muslims have enjoyed around 700 years of military domination. So we have 700 years vs. four months - who do you like? He also stated that Osama knows that the American public knows it is being bamboozled. Bushy is fighting a war so he can make his cronies rich and we watch and feel helpless. At least I do. And while I disagree with much of what Bushy says, does and stands for, I also feel he is correct on one very important point - to leave Iraq now would be a grievous error.

I think that once we disgracefully left Somalia, with our dead soldiers being dragged through the streets no less, Osama saw hope for a Jihad against the US. He even deemed us a paper tiger based on our piss-poor military display.

Another on the money point by Bloom was the assertion that we are constantly bombarded by the media asking the question of when this war will end - Bloom and anyone that pays attention realizes this war has no end. It has no boundaries. Osama will never stop, the only thing he will do is pause, just long enough to bolster his numbers and support to continue his Jihad.

Pleasant, right? All this said, I'd rather that my biggest concern is trying to figure out which track I like the most on Glennard Da Vinci's newest offering to the Athens Freaky Mix Exchange - I'm going to go with "By Your Side" by Coco Rosie and "Hold You Down" by Alchemist, Prodigy and Nina Sky.

Today, let's talk about water...or soon to be lack there of. An article in The Reader this week brings to light that western states, such as Nevada, are already very worried about its water situation and said western states would love to extend a giant straw/pipe to our great lakes. But this move is unlikely, with Nevada more likely to consider desalinization plants. Then the story shifts gears and talks about all the lovely legal wrangling over the situation in our Great Lakes region.

But, my mind started to wander at one thought. I guess, people, that we have our next oil. Already, Fortune magazine has plainly stated "Water promises to be the 21st century what oil was to the 20th century: the precious commodity that determines the wealth of nations." Hmmm.....

So, any of you budding entrepreneurs have the capital to buy/invest in some lakes? Sure, you probably will never capitalize on any of the spoils, but your great-great grandchildren will think you were a genius. I just can't believe that crappy Kevin Kostner movie "Waterworld" might actually come true...

Musically, how about a fresh remake of Nas classic? "Life's a bitch" and fittingly, "Waterworld" featuring Encore off Handsome Boy Modeling School, So How's Your Girl?

Pigs are green in Taiwan - from the inside out. Yep, if you ain't heard, by injecting fluorescent green protein into embryonic pigs, a research team at the island's leading National Taiwan University managed to breed three male transgenic pigs, said professor Wu Shinn-Chih of the university's Institute and Department of Animal Science and Technology. Gotta love those Taiwanese.

"There are partially fluorescent green pigs elsewhere, but ours are the only ones in the world that are green from inside out. Even their hearts and internal organs are green," Wu said on Thursday.The transgenic pigs, commonly used to study human diseases, would help researchers monitor and trace changes of the tissues during the physical development, Wu said.

Nice. If green pigs move us one step closer to fixing some of the many ills in the world, I'm all for it. I know there has been a debate about this topic, but I really have never understood why. Is there such a thing as stopping science? Stem sell research is the next direction. Should we have prevented scientists from mapping out the human genome? Hell no - and this ain't no different.

While we are talking about piggly-wigglies, how about playing some Pig Blaster? Last, wouldn't it be especially cool if the green pigs were doing (Geiger) "Cocaine" "In Space" (Royskopp)? Could happen.

Looks like the annual hajj pilgrimage got ill today.

Thousands of Muslim pilgrims rushing to complete a symbolic stoning ritual tripped over luggage Thursday, causing a literal pileup of people in which at least 345 people were killed, the Interior Ministry said. Wow - 345 people dead because of luggage? The stampede occurred as tens of thousands of pilgrims headed toward al-Jamarat, a series of three pillars representing the devil that the faithful pelt with stones to purge themselves of sin or maybe it happened because all those Muslim fellas were staring at Arabic starlet Pamela Hajj. To be honest, a pilgrimage to Pam makes a lot more sense as you readily can see and you wouldn't have to change any of your posters because Pam has the same last name.

Sad part is, this t'aint (not to be confused with the quagga) the first time this happened. Oh no. Same isht happened in 1990, which killed 1,426 people and another in February 2004 that killed 244. One would think the problem would have been addressed by now, but I think there are deeper implications. This year's hajj was already marred by the Jan. 5 collapse of a building being used as a pilgrims' hotel that killed 76 people in Mecca. So, that makes 421 dead folks at Muslim Fest '06. Are these people considered martyrs as well or only 400 virgins await if you blow yourself up? What would God/Allah say...

"Muslim people of earth...while it sucks you died trampling each other in honor of me, I am left in a mental state of debate on whether or not to admit you into the pearly gates. Sure, you were on a pilgrimage for me, but you died because of luggage and not in an honorable, blowing-yourself-to-bits manner like so many of your brethren. God, it's not easy being God."

It sure isn't. But it ain't easy picking music on a regular basis either. I think we should listen to all My Morning Jacket today. A. Because they are growing on me by the day, which means their good and B. Because the two song titles "Death Is The Easy Way" and "If It Smashes Down" from At Dawn, apply to our dearly departed friends from the hajj.

Let's take a look at my old stomping grounds - Cincinnat-a. Seems Granny Johannas Pope had told her live-in caregiver that she didn't want to be buried and, well, I guess said caregiver acquiesced because Ms. Pope was recently found in a chair in front of her television set 2.5 years after her death.

Pope died in August 2003 at age 61, but her body was not found until last week in the upstairs of her home. Some family members continued to live downstairs, while Granny watched her TV. Apparently, an air conditioner had been left running upstairs which allowed Granny to slowly mummify. But the AC stopped working about a month ago and the body began to smell. Huh. Granny didn't want to be separated from her TV and I suppose her caregiver saw the genius in that. This has inspired me to compose a poem.....

Granny Pope was stubborn 'ol gal,
and television was her most favoritest pal.
She said when she croaked and this wasn't a joke,
"Put me in front of the TV, that's perfect for me."
But the AC died and she started to stink,
And now ABC's ratings are beginning to sink.

Now, let Sam Prekop's "Showrooms" and Iron & Wine's "Faded from the Winter" help you dwell on Ms. Pope.

The Chicago Tribune has a knew hip and with it tabloid named the RedEye. This sib of the Trib, as they like to say in their masthead, contains hard-hitting stories like Lindsay Lohan's tell-all interview in the February issue of Vanity Fair of her eating disorder and how to properly hydrate one's skin.

This progressive tabloid also has a gay columnist aptly named Jason Steele who comments, apparently, on all things gay. In his column "Boy on Boystown" on January 5, Steele talks about gay marriage and why it is ludicrous that he can't marry his pardner, Brad. Now, I couldn't agree more with Jason on this point. But, who really gives a damn? We have way more important things to worry about. Nope, after his succinct and lucid argument on why gay marriage should be allowed, the RedEye wrote:

JASON STEELE IS A REDEYE SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR - in caps, no less. Wow.

Moving on, let's rok a couple of tunes that have been in my iPod for awhile now - first, Psapp's "Chapter" and then "Skillz" by long-time playas, Gang Starr.

In my ongoing effort of consolidating interesting stories I come across on the information superhighway known as the Internet, I have recently found some lulu's to wow my loyal readers.

First, an amateur scientist from South Africa says he can bring an animal back from extinction: the quagga. A large mammal that descended from the zebra, the quagga filled South Africa's plains for thousands of years. But it fell to trigger-happy European colonists and was last seen alive in 1883. Yep - quaggas were fun to shoot.

And while there exist several objections to reviving the quagga, the following is most definitely mi favorito - A popular 19th-century theory held that men and animals inherit traits not just from their parents but also from their mother's first partner. This supposed phenomenon was called "the taint of the quagga" because it was said to have been discovered in the animal.

The taint was alluded to by journalists of the era and in the writings of Goethe, Strindberg, Ibsen, and Zola. It reinforced the taboo of miscegenation and encouraged men to keep their women under lock and key. Your damn right. The taint of the quagga. Holy shit. And I thought taint was just another word for nifkin, fooch or grundle.

Second fun little fact for the day, well, less a fact and more something interesting to watch. Want to learn about the universe and its creation without getting way too mathy? Well, click here. This isht is even interesting to a definite math idiot such as myself. Enjoy.

How about some smooth hip-hop for musical selections? Let's rok Peanut Butter Wolf "Styles Crew Flows Beats" and Mad Villain aka MF Doom "Accordion." Werd.

I think an apt title to start the '06 and before I get into the meat of my argument, a brief history lesson on the origins of Tabula rasa.

The term comes from the Latin, meaning "scraped tablet", though often translated "blank slate") it is the notion that individual human beings are born "blank" (with no built-in mental content), and that their identity is defined entirely by events after birth. In recent times, however, Tabula rasa has been given a different meaning. While the idea that the individual can be changed remains, the power to effect that change is now ascribed to society, not the self - and that power extends to the whole of human nature.

Under this view, one can almost without restriction shape the individual by changing the individuals environment, and thus sensory experiences. And while I think there is some validity to this, because we all are heavily influenced by our surroundings, we also need to make a continued concerted effort to improve from the inside out. Thus, taking some responsibility to create serious change when needed.

So, there is my challenge y'all. Live to improve yourself thereby improving your life. Or at least try. Take in Alex Grey's "Oversoul." He is quite the artist as you can readily see.

Musically, let's start the new year with some juxtaposition - another one of my favorites. Biggie doin' his duet thang over Frank Sinatra tunes called "Everyday Struggle - A Day In The Life of a Fool" and one of my favorite all time songs from Modest Mouse "Out of Gas."